“India, China… the main culprits”: US senator backs bill that proposes up to 100% tariffs on buyers of Russian oil | Today’s news
US Senator Richard Blumenthal named India and China as the “main culprits” as a bipartisan group of senators agreed on fast-track legislation that would allow the US to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying large volumes of Russian oil.
“The bill authorizes tariffs up to 100% … it’s carefully crafted to make sure we don’t hit our allies. We’re hitting China, India … let’s be really blunt. They’re the main culprits. They buy the vast majority of oil and gas and fuel the Russian war machine,” Blumenthal said.
He also claimed that India’s imports of Russian oil fell by half after President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods. “Tariffs and sanctions have consequences … Trump is signing this bill with the expectation that he will use them,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the US Senate voted 86-12 in a procedural vote to advance the legislation. The bill, first introduced in April 2025 by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, proposes sanctions against Russian officials, oligarchs, financial institutions and the so-called shadow fleet used to circumvent restrictions on Russian oil exports.
The legislation would also empower Trump to impose up to 100% tariffs on imports from countries that continue to buy significant amounts of Russian oil and gas. Nations that could be affected include India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.
The bill was expanded to include restrictions related to Iran
The scope of the legislation was also expanded to include measures aimed at limiting financial support for Iran’s energy and defense sectors.
“We are proud to announce an agreement on legislation that will prevent buyers of Russian oil and gas from fueling Putin’s war machine and continue to limit the Iranian regime’s ability to support terrorism and build its nuclear program,” the bipartisan group of senators said in a joint statement.
The proposal still needs to clear other procedural steps and receive final approval from the Senate before it is sent to the House of Representatives, which is expected to pass it after lawmakers return from summer recess in September.
India blocks import of Russian oil
India remains particularly vulnerable to the proposed measures as it is the world’s second largest importer of Russian oil after China. Its dependence on Russian supplies increased after the disruption of oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict in West Asia, prompting refiners to increase purchases from Russia.
New Delhi has consistently defended its energy imports from Russia, saying they are driven by economic and energy security considerations.
During a visit to Finland last month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the US had earlier recognized India’s role in stabilizing global energy markets after sanctions disrupted Russian supplies.
“At that time, the US directly asked India to buy Russian oil to stabilize the oil market. We buy oil based on price and availability,” Jaishankar said.
He also criticized what he described as inconsistencies in Western sanctions policy and warned against applying selective norms to issues related to trade, energy security and geopolitics.
Last month, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said India had never been instructed to stop buying Russian oil, adding that the restrictions only applied to transactions involving entities already subject to sanctions.
(With input from agencies)
